Old wives' tale for breastfeeding - what is it?

Updated on All content is checked by medical journalists.

It is often not easy for new mothers: well-meaning people and countless advice books are full of tips on how to best care for a baby. There is a lot of advice circulating, especially on the subject of breastfeeding, but on closer inspection some of it turn out to be old wives' tales. has invited midwives and lactation consultants to the "fairy tale hour" and asked for clarification.

Myth 1: "Breastfeeding mothers have to drink a lot"

The more a woman drinks, the more breast milk her breasts are supposed to produce. What sounds logical is still wrong. "It is not necessary to drink more fluids than usual in order to be able to produce more milk or to maintain milk production," says Jasmin Kraftzig, midwife and breastfeeding and lactation consultant. “Milk production begins as early as the 16th week of pregnancy and is stimulated by the interaction of pregnancy and breastfeeding hormones. After the birth, the baby's breastfeeding stimulates the production of the lactating hormone (prolactin). The more often the child is breastfed, the better the milk production works. "

Above all, it is important for women who are breastfeeding to be in good general condition. In addition to other factors such as a balanced diet, sufficient fluid intake also contributes to this. Experts recommend breastfeeding women consume two to two and a half liters of fluids per day, such as still or non-carbonated mineral water and unsweetened herbal and fruit teas. “Special breastfeeding teas or still juices are not necessary as their effectiveness is very unlikely,” says Kraftzig.

Other factors that could contribute to successful breastfeeding are a lot of skin contact between mother and baby, correct application to avoid pain, and complete emptying of the existing milk. Kraftzig: "A harmonious and relaxed atmosphere is also important, as stress can inhibit milk production."
Jasmin Kraftzig, midwife, breastfeeding and lactation consultant IBCLC
www.hebamme-kraftzig.de

Myth 2: "Breastfeeding mothers are not allowed to eat a lot"

Nothing bloating, nothing spicy, no citrus fruits? So that the child does not get gas, stomach pain, a sore bottom or even allergies, breastfeeding mothers are often advised to restrict their diet. However, this is not necessary. "Babies learn their mothers' eating habits as early as pregnancy," explains Sandra Deissmann from the IBCLC Association of German Lactation Consultants. Babies even recognize this familiar taste in breast milk, tolerate it well and prefer it. "

This was also shown by experiences from other cultures. "Indian babies are used to their mothers' extremely spicy diet," says Deissmann. “And babies from families in which a lot of garlic is eaten prefer breast milk with a garlic flavor.” Babies learn to tolerate their mother's food during pregnancy.

The expert's advice is therefore: “Breastfeeding mothers should eat a balanced and varied diet. Even if the baby is at increased risk of developing an allergy, the mother cannot prevent this by avoiding potential allergy triggers in her diet. Quite the opposite: a varied diet for the mother seems to increase the baby's tolerance for allergens, which are absorbed in the smallest amounts through breast milk. "

And another tip: "Raw animal foods such as raw milk, meat, fish or eggs, which should be avoided during pregnancy, can be eaten again during breastfeeding."
Sandra Deissmann, IBCLC breastfeeding & lactation consultant, health and pediatric nurse, board member of the Professional Association of German Lactation Consultants IBCLC e.V.
www.stillberatung-deissmann.de

Myth 3: "Sore nipples are normal and unavoidable"

If a baby is sucking on maternal nipples every few hours, it's no wonder that sensitive skin is getting sore, right? “No, that's not true,” contradicts the midwife Regine Gresens. “Sore nipples are common early in breastfeeding, but that doesn't mean they are normal.” Just because it affects so many new mothers these days, would pain and sore nipples when breastfeeding are expected and seen as inevitable.

In the vast majority of cases, however, the cause of sore nipples is an unfavorable breastfeeding position and application technique. “Ointments, creams and other products are often inadequate because they only treat the symptom, not the cause. Most of the time, the baby's mouth didn't capture enough of the breast so that the nipple isn't deep in the back of the mouth, ”explains Gresens.

The prerequisite for sore nipples to actually heal or not develop in the first place is the correct positioning of the child while breastfeeding: You can tell whether your child is sucking properly on your breast by the fact that its mouth is wide open ("mouth full of breast") with his lips turned outwards and his chin touching his chest. In addition, the baby's nose is then close to the chest and the cheeks are not drawn in when sucking, but are round - so no dimples are visible.

When babies are put on correctly in this way, sore nipples are usually not an issue. If so, women should seek qualified help as soon as possible. "The sooner you do this, the faster the underlying problem can be resolved and the sooner you can start enjoying breastfeeding," says Gresens.
Regine Gresens, midwife, breastfeeding and lactation consultant IBCLC, alternative practitioner for psychotherapy (HPG)
www.stillkinder.de

Myth 4: "Breastfeeding leads to obesity in babies"

Just don't breastfeed, it is easy to overfeed the baby and it will become too fat, some mothers fear. The midwife Jana Friedrich gives the all-clear: "No, breastfeeding does not lead to overweight in babies." This is also proven by scientific studies. "In 1999 there was the largest study to date on breastfeeding and early childhood eating habits in connection with obesity," reports Friedrich. “The result: children who were breastfed were less likely to be overweight at the age of five to six. And: the longer the breastfeeding period, the less likely it is to be overweight. "

When it comes to babies and obesity, one must also ask the question: When is a child too fat? "The growth curves (percentile curves) that we still mostly use today are based on data from children, the majority of whom were not breastfed," says Friedrich. "In addition, children today are heavier from birth than they were 50 years ago." That sometimes leads to irritation.

Another point is important to the midwife in this context: "Babies are babies - and not models!" The word baby fat is no coincidence. “Babies are allowed, no, they should have these additional reserves. These are a precautionary measure for bad times. ”In the Stone Age, these were actual times of shortage. "Today the baby fat serves as a reserve for times of illness or teething or simply for times of particularly strong growth or a great urge to move," say the midwives. Incidentally, this applies to both breastfed and bottle-fed children.
Jana Friedrich, midwife and blogger
www.hebammenblog.de

Myth 5: "Women with flat or inverted nipples cannot breastfeed"

If the woman has flat or inverted nipples instead of "normal" nipples, the baby cannot suckle on them properly, warn some self-proclaimed breastfeeding experts. Mothers shouldn't let themselves be unsettled by such statements."Flat nipples and inverted nipples can cause problems when breastfeeding, but that doesn't necessarily have to be the case," emphasizes AFS lactation consultant Angela Schickhoff. "And when such problems arise, in the vast majority of cases they can be overcome."

With flat and inverted nipples, the nipple hardly or not at all stands out from the areola. "Flat nipples can be brought out by pressing the outer edge of the areola with your index finger and thumb or by stimulation, so that there are often no problems with breastfeeding," explains Schickhoff. You can also stimulate the flat warts before breastfeeding so that they stand out.

The case is different with inverted nipples (inverted nipples): They do not straighten up behind the areola or when stimulated, even with finger pressure, but rather retreat into the areola, making it difficult for the child to suck in. The lactation consultant's tip: "With real inverted nipples, it can make sense to pull the wart out using a pump, for example, before breastfeeding so that the baby can better grasp the breast."

Sometimes aids are also recommended, such as nipple shields (to make it easier for the child to put on) or special breast shields (nipple formers), which can be inserted into the bra during pregnancy and are intended to promote the protrusion of the nipples. “However, you can usually breastfeed successfully without using them,” says Schickhoff. If you still want to use such aids for breastfeeding, you should carefully inform yourself from a midwife about the correct use and the various advantages and disadvantages. Particular attention must be paid to correct cleaning and disinfection in order to avoid infections in mother and child.
Angela Schickhoff, AFS lactation consultant
www.stillen-in-potsdam.de

Myth 6: "Breast milk is no longer nutritious after the 6th month"

From the age of six months, many mothers fear that breast milk is no longer what the growing baby needs. A completely unfounded concern, reassures the "La Leche Liga Deutschland e.V.". The non-profit organization advises women on all important questions relating to breastfeeding. She knows: For the growing baby, breast milk remains the most valuable food alongside complementary foods, even in the second half of life. Because it has a higher calorie and nutrient content than many other foods. “Don't let the liquid consistency fool you,” says the La Leche League. "Breast milk has an energy content of around 68 kilocalories per 100 milliliters and is also satisfying after the sixth month of life." For comparison: cooked carrot porridge only has around 27 kilocalories per 100 milliliters, 100 grams of apples have around 52 kilocalories.

Particularly important: the proportion of immune substances in breast milk even increases again after six and twelve months of breastfeeding. An important protection for the baby. "So don't worry if a child still wants to be breastfed frequently with complementary foods," say the lactation experts from the La Leche League. Even if the usual complementary food plans might suggest this: The infant does not give up its valuable breast milk by getting to know new food. This even helps him digest unfamiliar food.
Susanne Wittmair, author and lactation consultant, La Leche Liga Deutschland e.V.
www.lalecheliga.de

Further questions? You can find help here!

If you have any further questions about breastfeeding myths or need help with a specific breastfeeding problem, you should contact a midwife or well-trained lactation consultant. The latter can be recognized by the designation IBCLC. The abbreviation stands for "International Board Certified Lactation Consultant" and guarantees long and intensive additional training as a lactation consultant and regular participation in further training.

Midwives and lactation consultants not only have professional competence, they also provide emotional support. That is why they are important confidants and companions for mothers - and also for fathers and children.

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